Richardson is out. The man Obama touted as “the best man for the job” of Commerce Secretary is withdrawing his nomination amid a grand jury investigation into a pay-for-play scandal in which it is alleged that as governor, Richardson granted a transportation contract worth $1.48 million in exchange for political contributions. But the investigation was well-known to Obama when he announced the Richardson nomination, so the explanation that Richardson didn’t want an investigation to, “delay the confirmation process,” is nothing but deep-dish Chicago-style horsehockey. Something has changed.

The most logical assumption is that Richardson is guilty and the investvestigation may turn into indictment.

Meanwhile, it is being reportedthat Secretary of State designate, her royal thighness, Hillary Rotten Clinton, may be embroiled in her own pay-for-play scandal:

A developer in New York state donated $100,000 to former President Bill Clinton’s foundation in November 2004, around the same time that Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton helped secure millions of dollars in federal assistance for the businessman’s mall project.

Hillary Clinton helped enact legislation allowing the developer, Robert Congel, to use tax-exempt bonds to help finance the construction of the Destiny USA entertainment and shopping complex, an expansion of the Carousel Center in Syracuse.

She also helped secure a provision in a highway bill that set aside $5 million for Destiny USA roadway construction. [read more]

The Clintons? Corrupt?! Who woulda thunk!

Add these scandals to the Blagojevich appointment selling, and the upcoming Rezko and Hsu sentencings, and Obama, as president-elect, is already involved in more real corruption than the Bush administration saw in all eight years.

Precisely the kind of “change” those of us paying attention to Obama’s record warned he would bring.